Fianna Fail and Labour call for deposit cuts for first-time buyers struggling to get on ladder.

First-time buyers are being frozen out of the housing market due to high rents coupled with the massive mortgage down payments they are forced to save due to the Central Bank rules.

Young families hoping to trade-up are also being crippled by the lending conditions which mean they have to save a huge 20pc deposit on any home they hope to buy.

Fianna Fail is calling for the rate for first-time buyers to be slashed by a third if the house-buyer has a proven track record of paying rent for three years.

The party’s submission, which was prepared by Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath, also calls for new laws which will force banks to take out insurance against losses arising from borrowers defaulting, or entering into a mortgage arrears resolution process.

The cost would be shared between the borrower and lender – the bank would add an interest rate to the loan to cover the insurance.